Cheers to a New Chapter!
Dr. Martha McDonald
Associate Professor of Nursing
Martha has served McKendree since 1993 and knew the meaning of lifelong learning. With licenses in multiple states, Martha coordinated McKendree’s nursing programs in southern Illinois and recruited and mentored students in the university’s RN-to-BSN and MSN programs throughout the region. She took a special interest in researching critical care, pain, and theory development.
Described as “a legend,” Martha was a previous winner of the Exemplary Teacher Award in 2012. Her students have appreciated her dedication, concern, sense of humor in the classroom, and ability to make complex information more easily understood.
“My philosophy of teaching is a reflection of my background,” Martha said. “I believe in assisting students to attain their goals through personal guidance and mentoring.”
Known as someone who has one of the best clinical minds, Martha loves the outdoors and is also anyone’s go-to person if someone isn’t feeling well.
Dr. Janet Wicker
Professor of Education
Janet has taught for more than four decades and has also served McKendree as the Chair of the School of Education. Her personalized attention and her great care for her students have helped cement her into the hearts of Bearcats past and present alike, with many education students calling her “the best professor at McKendree.”
For good reason: she championed each of her students from the beginning and was filled with pride when they achieved their dreams. Even when some of her students would get close to the end of their education degree and begin to doubt their ability to truly teach, she would have a chat with them – and most of the time, that boost of confidence was all they needed to become life-changing educators for their students.
“One of my proudest moments at McKendree was when my students would come into class and proudly announce that they had passed the Elementary Content Test given by the state and that they had no trouble getting through the phonics section of the test,” Janet said. “I tried to make the phonics section in my class fun, not something to fear.”
Janet chose to serve McKendree for two decades because she enjoyed the small campus feel and getting to know her students on a personal level, something that she will expect to miss the most in her retirement. However, she doesn’t plan to stop making a difference in the field of education; in fact, she plans on going back to the elementary school in which she first began teaching in 1981 to become the principal and curriculum director.
“The classroom is my happy place, and I look forward to not only the teaching, but also checking in with my students and making those personal connections,” she said.
Janet has been a joy to have in the Bearcat family, and many will miss her wisdom and caring heart. Her pride for her students spills into all she does, and her heart sings to know that her students are doing what they love as classroom teachers.
“My students have heard me say this many times: teach them well! Never betray the trust the parents and caregivers of the children in your class have given you to do your best all day, every day!” Janet said.
Dr. Richelle Rennegarbe ’92
Professor of nursing, director of DNP programs
Richelle has taught at McKendree for more than 22 years combined. She first began teaching in 1996 until 2003 when she left to work at Salem Township Hospital as their Chief Operating Officer and then as their Chief Executive Officer. She returned in 2009 following the sudden death of her son, Nicholas.
“It has truly been an honor and joy to serve the students and McKendree University for 22 years,” Richelle said. “It was cathartic to return to McKendree and to the students and institution for a second time. I am proud that all three of my children – Nicholas, Camille, and Chyrisse – and myself are alumni. McKendree will always have a special place in my heart, and it drove my mission throughout my tenure to truly ‘make my mark’ as a Bearcat.”
During her time at McKendree, Richelle served as the program director for several programs, often at the same time. She also served as the Chair for the university’s Division of Nursing and blazed a trail for the university’s nursing program, most notably developing the Master of Health Administration (MHA) program and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. She has also taught in all four major nursing programs the university provides: the RN to BSN program, the MSN program, the MHA program, and the DNP program. She spearheaded the accreditation and recertification of these programs as well.
Richelle is well-known and well-respected by students and peers alike. A dynamic, passionate, and innovative leader, she regularly inspires nursing students and faculty and also played a critical role in successfully attaining more than $1,251,000 in grant funding during her time at McKendree. She served on 14 committees at the university and division level and was the president of Phi Kappa Phi honor society from 2017 to 2019 and its vice president from 2015 to 2017.
While Richelle is retiring from full-time teaching, she plans on remaining as an associate nursing faculty member at McKendree. She also plans on being an active part of her eight grandchildren’s lives, who are all involved in sports, traveling with her husband, and returning to hobbies that she often had to put aside due to work.
“Fred Rogers stated, ‘If only you could sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet, how important you can be to people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.’ I hope all of us keep this quote in mind as we meet and interact with others. We leave a piece of ourselves with everyone we meet in life. It is imperative that we make the most of those meetings and give 101 percent of ourselves when interacting with others. I sincerely hope my students and colleagues know how important they were in my life during my tenure at McKendree University!”
Brent Reeves
Director of Cultural Affairs
Brent was McKendree’s first-ever Director of Cultural Affairs when he joined the Bearcat family in 1997. Since then, he has had a major positive impact on the cultural, social, and intellectual development of our students, always taking the time to ensure that students felt loved and heard. He was also ready to go above and beyond for international students, often running them to Walmart, the airport, the bank, or anywhere else they might need to go.
He is especially proud of exposing students to the annual conference of the National African American Student Leadership Conference at Rust College in Holly Springs, Miss., over a 10-year period (Fun fact: McKendree was awarded for bringing the most students during a given year and for the most consistent attendance over multiple years!). However, Brent’s proudest moment at McKendree was seeing his own daughter, Lauren Ashley Reeves ’17, graduate from McKendree in three years.
After his military service to our nation in the Air Force and his decades of service to higher education and McKendree, Brent is looking forward to spending more time with his family – especially his daughter, son-in-law, and future granddaughter – and getting married this November. He also wants to try his hand at voiceover work for radio, TV, or other forms of media. He does, however, expect to miss the students at McKendree, especially as a mentor and advisor. He took pride in seeing first-year students learn and mature over the time as Bearcats.
“If you are entrusted with anything that is not your own, make sure that you leave it in a better condition than when it was given to you. This is how you know that you have been productive to family and society!” Brent said.
